Diamagnetic levitation system for medical use

Abstract

A diamagnetic levitation system having an open torus magnet segment with a pair of arms extending from a central base. The ends of the arms form a gap. The arms are superconducting magnets and the base is an electromagnet. The magnet segment creates a planar magnetic field which forms a flat ellipse as the planar magnetic field crosses from one arm to the other and which is positioned only across the gap. The electromagnet oscillates the planar magnetic field. The magnet segment levitates a diamagnetic object within and/or above the gap. A plurality of magnet segments can be arranged in series to form a levitation system of defined length. The magnet segments are rotatable so that the planar magnetic field may be tilted.

We claim: 
     
       1. A diamagnetic levitation system, comprising:
 a) a plurality of open torus magnet segments, each said segment having a first arm, a second opposite arm, said first arm and said second arm extending from a base, and a free end of said first arm and a free end of said second arm forming a gap, wherein said plurality of open torus magnet segments extends along the longest dimension of a subject being levitated; 
 b) said first arm and said second arm are superconducting magnets and said base is a superconducting magnet or a control electromagnet; 
 c) each said open torus magnet segment makes a planar magnetic field which forms a flat ellipse on ends of said planar magnetic field as said planar magnetic field crosses from said free end of said first arm to said free end of said second arm, wherein said planar magnetic field is positioned only across said gap; 
 d) said plurality of open torus magnet segments levitates diamagnetic objects within and/or above said gaps; and 
 e) a support for said diamagnetic objects, said support being positioned in or near said gaps, wherein said support is a chamber positioned around said diamagnetic objects. 
 
     
     
       2. A diamagnetic levitation system, comprising:
 a) a plurality of open torus magnet segments, each said segment having a first arm, a second opposite arm, said first arm and said second arm extending from a base, and a free end of said first arm and a free end of said second arm forming a gap, wherein said plurality of open torus magnet segments extends along the longest dimension of a subject being levitated; 
 b) said first arm and said second arm are superconducting magnets and said base is a superconducting magnet or a control electromagnet; 
 c) each said open torus magnet segment makes a planar magnetic field which forms a flat ellipse on ends of said planar magnetic field as said planar magnetic field crosses from said free end of said first arm to said free end of said second arm, wherein said planar magnetic field is positioned only across said gap; 
 d) said plurality of open torus magnet segments levitates diamagnetic objects within or above said gaps; and 
 e) said plurality of open torus magnet segments arranged in series to form a diamagnetic levitation system of defined length. 
 
     
     
       3. The diamagnetic levitation system of  claim 2  wherein each of said open torus magnet segments is offset from center by plus or minus 2 to 5 degrees alternating down the length of said series for self-centering of said diamagnetic object in said planar magnetic field. 
     
     
       4. A diamagnetic levitation system, comprising:
 a) a plurality of open torus magnet segments, each said segment having a first arm, a second opposite arm, said first arm and said second arm extending from a base, and a free end of said first arm and a free end of said second arm forming a gap, wherein said plurality of open torus magnet segments extends along the longest dimension of a subject being levitated; 
 b) said first arm and said second arm are superconducting magnets and said base is a superconducting magnet or a control electromagnet; 
 c) each said open torus magnet segment makes a planar magnetic field which forms a flat ellipse on ends of said planar magnetic field as said planar magnetic field crosses from said free end of said first arm to said free end of said second arm, wherein said planar magnetic field is positioned only across said gap; 
 d) said plurality of open torus magnet segment levitates diamagnetic objects within or above said gaps; 
 e) each said superconducting magnet or said control electromagnet of said base oscillates said planar magnetic field in said gap when operated; 
 f) said open torus magnet segment is rotatable so that said planar magnetic field is tilted away from an orientation perpendicular to the direction of gravity as said open torus magnet segment is rotated; 
 g) said open torus magnet segment has a core that ranges from a flattened plane or oval shape of 0.3 to 3 inches maximum thickness at said free end of said first arm and said free end of said second arm to a 6 to 10 inch rectangular cross section at said base; and 
 h) a support for said diamagnetic objects, said support being positioned in or near said gaps, wherein said support is a chamber positioned around said diamagnetic objects. 
 
     
     
       5. A diamagnetic levitation system comprising:
 a) a plurality of open torus magnet segments, each said segment having a first arm, a second opposite arm, said first arm and said second arm extending from a base, and a free end of said first arm and a free end of said second arm forming a gap, wherein said plurality of open torus magnet segments extends along the longest dimension of a subject being levitated; 
 b) said first arm and said second arm are superconducting magnets and said base is a superconducting magnet or a control electromagnet; 
 c) each said open torus magnet segment makes a planar magnetic field which forms a flat ellipse on ends of said planar magnetic field as said planar magnetic field crosses from said free end of said first arm to said free end of said second arm, wherein said planar magnetic field is positioned only across said gap; 
 d) said plurality of open torus magnet segments levitates diamagnetic objects within or above said gaps; 
 e) each said superconducting magnet or said control electromagnet of said base oscillates said planar magnetic field in said gap when operated; 
 f) said open torus magnet segment is rotatable so that said planar magnetic field is tilted away from an orientation perpendicular to the direction of gravity as said open torus magnet segment is rotated; 
 said open torus magnet segment has a core that ranges from a flattened plane or oval shape of 0.3 to 3 inches maximum thickness at said free end of said first arm and said free end of said second arm to a 6 to 10 inch rectangular cross section at said base, and 
 h) said plurality of said open torus magnet segments arranged in series to form a diamagnetic levitation system of defined length. 
 
     
     
       6. The diamagnetic levitation system of  claim 5  wherein each of said open torus magnet segments is offset from center by plus or minus 2 to 5 degrees alternating down the length of said series for self-centering of said diamagnetic object in said planar magnetic field. 
     
     
       7. A diamagnetic levitation system, comprising:
 a) a plurality of open torus magnet segments, each said segment having a first arm, a second opposite arm, said first arm and said second arm extending from a base, and a free end of said first arm and a free end of said second arm forming a gap, wherein said plurality of open torus magnet segments extends along the longest dimension of a subject being levitated; 
 b) said first arm and said second arm are superconducting magnets and said base is a superconducting magnet or a control electromagnet; 
 c) each said open torus magnet segment makes a planar magnetic field which forms a flat ellipse on ends of said planar magnetic field as said planar magnetic field crosses from said free end of said first arm to said free end of said second arm, wherein said planar magnetic field is positioned only across said gap; 
 d) said plurality of open torus magnet segments levitates diamagnetic objects within or above said gaps; 
 e) each said superconducting magnet or said control electromagnet of said base oscillates said planar magnetic field in said gap when operated; 
 f) said open torus magnet segment is rotatable so that said planar magnetic field is tilted away from an orientation perpendicular to the direction of gravity as said open torus magnet segment is rotated; 
 g) said open torus magnet segment has a core that ranges from a flattened plane or oval shape of 0.3 to 3 inches maximum thickness at said free end of said first arm and said free end of said second arm to a 6 to 10 inch rectangular cross section at said base; 
 h) a chamber positioned around said diamagnetic objects, said chamber positioned in said gaps; and 
 i) said plurality of open torus magnet segments arranged in series to form a diamagnetic levitation system of defined length, wherein each of said open torus magnet segments is offset from center by plus or minus 2 to 5 degrees alternating down the length of said series for self-centering of said diamagnetic objects in said planar magnetic field.